Delivered via email: May 22, 2026

This Week at the Capitol

After a week of subject matter hearings, committee and floor action, the Senate adjourned on Thursday with the House finishing up on Friday. Although May 22 marked the deadline for substantive bills to be passed out of both chambers on third reading, there are still many bills that need to be heard on the floor of both the Senate and House next week.

The General Assembly will return on May 25, Memorial Day, for its final week of session with adjournment scheduled for May 31. We anticipate seeing the FY2027 budget, the FY2027 Budget Implementation Plan (BIMP), the Megaprojects Legislation (HB910), and numerous other bills, including an ethics and elections bill and a procurement omnibus bill, before adjournment.  

Notice to Remedy (SB2914) Passes Both Chambers

Earlier this week, the House passed SB2914 (Cappel, Moeller), with a vote of 83-25. The bill will now go to the Governor for signature. IASB and other school management groups tried over the past month to return to the bargaining table to address the provision allowing binding arbitration for the school board’s issuance of a Notice to Remedy. Unfortunately, the bill passed with that provision intact. While IASB is disappointed in the result, we are incredibly appreciative of all the statewide advocacy on this important bill from our school board members, superintendents, and principals.    

Other Bills of Interest

• Foreign Language Requirement. Senate Amendment 1 to SB3070 (Preston) passed out of Senate Education Committee on Tuesday. This bill allows for an exemption to the two-year foreign language requirement that goes into effect during the 2028-2029 school year. The exemption would apply to students that have completed at least two years of coursework that have been approved by ISBE as a career and technical education course. School management, including IASB, has been engaged in conversations around the numerous bills filed this session related to implementation concerns with the two-year foreign language requirement and will continue discussions around a comprehensive approach. 
• House Ethics and Elections Subject Matter Hearing. IASB testified on HB4613 (West), a measure that would require taxing bodies, including school districts, to ensure that ballot measures meet a readability standard. IASB testified that the wording of school district ballot questions is currently prescribed in the School Code or Property Tax Code and HB4613 would create a direct conflict with those statutory requirements. While IASB is open to discussions on making ballot questions more readable, it is critical that the questions also meet legal requirements to ensure their validity.      
• Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) bills. Representative Didech has filed numerous FOIA-related bills this session, many which addressed issues districts have been experiencing with excessive FOIA requests. This week, four amendments were filed to SB2715 (Porfirio) to address many of these FOIA issues. The amendments would prohibit information from being disclosed that was submitted through a school helpline, ensure communications between the school, students, and parents are protected from FOIA requests, and create a process for public bodies to restrict “vexatious requestors” from filing future suits. Our understanding is that there will be a subject matter hearing next week to see if any of these amendments move forward.   
• Senate AI and Biometric Bills. Amendments were filed for SB415 (Villa), which puts limits on the use of student biometric information for reasons other than legitimate instructional purposes, and SB416 (Martwick) which limits the use of AI for teachers in student grading that requires professional judgment and the use of AI related to students or student work unless the AI model is approved by the school district. These amendments addressed IASB’s outstanding concerns with both bills. The bills passed out of the Senate and moved to the House for consideration. 
• Solar Installation Legislation. SB3273 (Cunningham), a joint initiative of IASB, IASA, and Illinois ASBO, passed out of Senate and has moved to the House. SB3273 removes barriers to solar installation for school districts.  

Upcoming Advocacy Ambassador Meeting

The final Advocacy Ambassadors meeting for the 2025-2026 school year will take place on June 5 and will be open to all IASB members. It will include an overview of the FY2027 state budget, key bills that passed, and what to expect moving forward. 

A survey was sent to all Advocacy Ambassadors. If you are a current Ambassador, check for an email titled “May 15 Advocacy Ambassador Follow Up” and complete the survey by May 29, so IASB can continue to plan for next school year.